MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 26: Dmitry Kulikov talks to the media after being selected 14th overall by the Florida Panthers during the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 26, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Dmitry Kulikov returned from a knee injury and scored the winning shootout goal as the Florida Panthers beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Saturday night.
John Madden and Mikael Samuelsson scored in regulation for the Panthers. Jose Theodore made 24 saves.
Derek Roy and Tyler Ennis scored goals for the Sabres, and Ryan Miller stopped 15 shots.
Florida's Wojtek Wolski and Buffalo's Ennis each scored in the second round of the shootout. Kulikov backhanded in his goal in the seventh round to give Florida the win. Kulikov played in his first game since missing 23 games.
The Panthers won their fourth straight and notched their longest winning streak since a seven-game run March 2-16, 2008, and tied the franchise record with five consecutive home wins. The Panthers are five points ahead of Washington in the Southeast Division.

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